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Grangemouth joins energy dispute Energy protest grows in Scotland
(about 1 hour later)
Staff at Scotland's only crude oil refinery at Grangemouth have walked out as part of an escalating UK-wide dispute over the use of foreign labour. Hundreds of workers at the giant crude oil refinery at Grangemouth have walked out as part of an escalating UK-wide dispute over the use of foreign labour.
Union officials said up to 800 staff at the Ineos plant were involved. The Unite trade union said contractors at six other Scottish sites were also involved in industrial action.
The action has also spread to the St Fergus gas terminal near Peterhead where 100 workers have laid down tools. Workers have downed tools at Scottish Power's Longannet and Cockenzie power stations as well as at Shell's St Fergus gas plant in Aberdeenshire.
The dispute began at the Lindsey Oil Refinery, North Lincolnshire, after a construction contract was awarded to an Italian firm. The dispute began at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Lincolnshire.
Unions said the contract should have been given to British workers. Workers there walked out after an Italian firm was awarded a construction contract which unions said should have gone to British workers.
Staff at Fife's Longannet Power Station have already walked off their shifts after beginning their action on Thursday. The Unite trade union said up to 800 contractors had downed tools at Grangemouth while about 500 have walked out at the Longannet power station in Fife.
It is understood that the main group of contractors at the Mossmorran chemical plant in Fife have also walked out, and may set up a picket line later on Friday. The argument is not against foreign workers, it's against foreign companies discriminating against British labour Bobby BuirdsUnite More than 100 workers have also stopped work at Cockenzie power station, and about 80 stopped work at British Energy's Torness facility.
The objection is foreign companies clearly stating they will not start British workers on the job Kenny SmithGrangemouth worker Speaking from Grangemouth, Bobby Birds of the Unite union, said: "I am actually recalling all the shop stewards to a meeting this afternoon just to catch up with where we are, but we know there's thousands on strike down south. At the Shell St Fergus gas processing facility in Aberdeenshire, there are reports that 150 workers have walked out, while about 100 have stopped work at ExxonMobil's petrochemicals plant at Mossmoran in Fife along with colleagues at the Shell plant at Mossmoran.
"And these lads are in solidarity with their colleagues down south, so it's sympathy and support." Speaking from Grangemouth, Bobby Buirds of the Unite union, said: "The argument is not against foreign workers, it's against foreign companies discriminating against British labour.
Kenny Smith is one worker who has walked out at Grangemouth. He said they were not objecting to foreign workers being used. "If the job of these mechanical contractors at Ineos finishes and they try and get jobs down south, the jobs are already occupied by foreign labour and their opportunities are decreasing.
He explained: "The objection is foreign companies clearly stating they will not start British workers on the job. We have no problems working with foreigners of any kind - we have Poles working here recently with us." "This is a fight for work. It is a fight for the right to work in our own country. It is not a racist argument at all."
'Pipeline system'
A spokesman for INEOS, which runs the Grangemouth plant, said those involved in the walkout were NAECI (National Agreement for Engineering and Construction Industry) workers.A spokesman for INEOS, which runs the Grangemouth plant, said those involved in the walkout were NAECI (National Agreement for Engineering and Construction Industry) workers.
In a statement, he said: "We can confirm that the contractor's shop steward has informed Ineos this morning that they are joining the dispute and have removed their labour from the Grangemouth site. In a statement, he said: "The plants at Grangemouth continue to operate normally and contractor safety cover has been agreed.
"The plants at Grangemouth continue to operate normally and contractor safety cover has been agreed.
"We are disappointed that the NAECI contactor population have chosen to walk out today especially as INEOS at Grangemouth has always worked the trade unions to ensure that local and UK labour are utilised on site."We are disappointed that the NAECI contactor population have chosen to walk out today especially as INEOS at Grangemouth has always worked the trade unions to ensure that local and UK labour are utilised on site.
"And, on the few occasions when it has been necessary, we have always agreed up front with the workforce the use of foreign labour as a top up.""And, on the few occasions when it has been necessary, we have always agreed up front with the workforce the use of foreign labour as a top up."
The Grangemouth walk-out included about 100 workers with contractors employed by BP.
They work at the Kinneil terminal - part of the Grangemouth complex where North Sea oil from the Forties pipeline system comes ashore.
A BP spokesman said: "The workers are not involved in day-to-day operations and the Forties pipeline system will continue to operate as normal."